Somi Lee carded a 6-under 65 Friday to grab a one-shot lead at the Evian Championship, the fourth of this season’s five LPGA Tour majors.
Lee, of South Korea, eagled the par-5 ninth hole at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, to go along with six birdies and two bogeys to get to 10-under overall.
Lee is coming off her first LPGA Tour win at the Dow Championship team event last month with Jin Hee Im.
“I think, first, this course is so beautiful, but you know, the green is so tricky, so I’m just (practicing) distance,” Lee said. “I’m just (focused) on distance. Miss left, miss right, never mind. Just distance — is it perfect.”
Australia’s Grace Kim, one of five first-round co-leaders, is in solo second at 9-under after shooting a 68 on Friday. American Jennifer Kupcho is in third at 8-under after an eventful 69 that included seven birdies and five bogeys.
“Been making a lot of putts and putting well,” Kupcho said. “I think it’s just kind of rolling, seeing the lines well. Feel like I’ve been here enough times that I’m starting to learn the greens a little bit, so that helps.”
South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi (68), South Africa’s Casandra Alexander (68) and American Andrea Lee (70) are tied for fourth.
“It was a bit of a tough day out there. Wasn’t the most tidy scorecard or tidy golf I’ve had. Didn’t hit it the best off the tee,” Alexander said. “But I think I made something great out of not-such-a-great situation. Had a lot of good up and downs and putting has been really good.”
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul is tied for seventh after a second straight round of 68.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the U.S. is part of a group tied for 12th at 5-under. Her second-round 70 included a double-bogey at the par-3 16th hole and an eagle at the par-5 18th, where she holed a double-breaking putt from about 30 feet.
Top-ranked amateur Lottie Woad of England is tied with Korda after a 2-under 69.
“There was a few tucked pins today and I hit it really well the last few days,” Woad said. “Maybe could have holed a few more putts, but if I can fix that over the weekend, if I can keep hitting it well, it’ll be good.”
Defending champion Ayaka Furue of Japan is tied for 26th at 3-under.
Among those missing the cut at 2-over-par were U.S. Women’s Open champion Maja Stark, world No. 3 Lydia Ko and No. 4 Ruoning Yin.
